Dog Mountain + Wind Mountain

Date hiked: 9/9/18

My first hike in my new home took place on possibly the last beautiful, summer day of the year--sunny and high 70s.

After a recent turn of events, the local hiking scene has apparently changed completely. Almost one one year ago to the day, a 15-year-old boy hurled fireworks into a parched canyon, igniting a massive wildfire that raged through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. The Eagle Ridge fire burned for over two months, spreading to more than 48,000 acres and wreaking havoc on nearby recreation area, highways, and homes. As a result, many beloved hiking trails in the Gorge remain closed with no timeline for opening.

Nevertheless, Aunt Judy managed to provide excellent recommendations for a pair of safe trails that have been recently restored. On Sunday morning, I headed eastbound on I-84, exiting at Cascade Locks in order to cross the Columbia River into Washington via the Bridge of the Gods. The toll bridge is an additional cost to most trailhead fees (likely to invest in a pass). Picking up WA Hwy 14 on the other side, Red and I passed through the town of Stevenson before reaching the easily-accessed trailhead. The hour-long scenic drive was a breeze compared to the mountain passes I was accustomed to climbing. Also gone are the days of leaving my apartment at 2am in fear of dangerous storms and overbearing crowds.

Dog Mountain is a strenuous but popular six-mile hike over 2,800'. From the trailhead, it's a steep trek through the woods along Trail 147. The open forest floor is filled with poison oak. At a junction half a mile in, an older, more difficult version of the trail veers left and the newer, less difficult trail is off to the right. Feeling ambitious, I chose the more difficult route.

A lower viewpoint offers a stunning view of the Columbia River and the Oregon side of the Gorge. From here, the trail gets even steeper, but a glimpse of the summit meadows through the trees kept me going. In late spring, this area rumored to be covered in yellow balsamroot.

The main trail continues to the left, towards an open meadow that is constantly pummeled by high winds. Half a mile later, a signed junction connects to the Summit Loop Trail.

At the top of the meadow, a short spur trail leads to a small, flat area at 2,948' (not in the Rockies anymore). Looking south lends a bird's eye view of Mt. Hood and Mt. Defiance (the highest mountain in the Gorge).

Many hikers return the same way or via the Augspurger Trail, but I continued southeast on the Summit Loop Trail into the woods to meet the main trail back at Puppy Dog Lookout. This alternate route is less scenic but more sheltered if hiking in poor weather. 

I started the hike at 8:45am and finished by 12:15pm, making for a solid 3.5-hour trek. Despite the low elevation, I still felt challenged by the steep climb. Still, it was great to dust off my boots and trekking poles!

I was ready to call it a day, but Aunt Judy convinced me to knock out a short trail on the way back. Wind Mountain is a-2.5 mile out-and-back trail. The moderately-rated trail gains 1,171'.

Just a short piece down the road from Dog Mountain, the trailhead was easy to spot on the side of a dirt road turnout. The trail turns east as it gains elevation steadily for a quarter mile or so. At an unsigned junction, the main trail again climbs steeply for the next mile. Long sweeping switchbacks cross a talus slope, eventually leveling out to a forest with a high canopy. Close to the summit, a large sign describes the cultural and historical significance of the mountain as a spirit quest site. This archaeological site is extremely fragile; visitors must stay within designated areas shown on the map.

 

The summit does not have a 360-degree view, but the viewing areas afford excellent views of the Columbia River, Dog Mountain, Mt. Defiance, and even Mt. St. Helens to the northwest.

This short and sweet hike was a worthy addition to my morning hike--1.5 hours round trip (12:45pm-2:15pm). The first hikes are in the books!

Cannon Beach + Astoria

My first weekend in Oregon coincided with Labor Day. The weather also happened to be perfect. Despite being unemployed, I still decided to celebrate, so my friend, Kyle, and I took off to the coast!

A winding, scenic 1.5-hour drive northwest of Portland leads you to Oregon's Cannon Beach--the tiny coastal town with the giant rock. The classy town is surrounded by expansive beaches, cozy restaurants, and art galleries.

Cannon Beach's long, sandy shore is known for Haystack Rock, which is a seasonal haven for tufted puffins. Additional wildlife viewing opportunities include bald eagles, elk (to my surprise), and gray whales (spring and winter).

Outdoor recreation activity abounds due to the multitude of vibrant ecosystems, from rainforest woodlands and wetlands to rocky shores.




















Apart from the beauty, the smell of the sea air was intoxicating. I am candidly excited by the fact that this is the closest that I've ever lived to an ocean. Though far from the warm, turquoise waters near the equator, the chilly, wild weather of the PNW coast is fascinating in its own right. If I end up sticking around, investing in a wetsuit and surfing lessons could very well become a longterm goal.

45 minutes north on Route 101 lies the port city of Astoria. Situated near the mouth of the relentless Columbia River where it meets the tides of the Pacific Ocean, the historic city was the first permanent U.S. settlement on the Pacific coast.

Housed in a 90-year-old cannery building on the waterfront, Bouy Beer Company has unmatched views of the incredible Astoria-Megler Bridge and the great cargo ships that regularly pass by. The vantage point can be enjoyed from a sunny adirondack chair with a fresh brew and paired plate. For an added bonus, a noisy (and possibly tipsy?) raft of sea lions hang out below deck!

All in all, a winning place. In continuation of my theme from The Adopted Coloradan, I have begun a new list to record the state breweries that I visit. Bouy is #2, the first being Hopworks Urban Brewery in southeast Portland.

 

Southeast Portland

My first week in Portland, aka PDX, was a whirlwind as I strived to balance moving into my new apartment, job hunting, and exploring. Built in 1913, The Clarkton is a quiet two-story nine-unit building located in the Southeast quadrant's Buckman neighborhood. Tucked in the back corner of the first floor is my new home for the next year. The private one-bedroom unit has a lot of character and natural light (mostly afternoon). It is 600 square feet--twice the size of my last apartment. Needless to say, I feel lost in the space, and overwhelmed by the task of furnishing it. Still, all of my neighbors--especially the felines--are very friendly! More pictures to come.

Portland is geographically divided into four--sometimes five--quadrants. The Willamette River (pronounced "Will-AM-it") divides the city vertically, while Burnside St. is the horizontal split.  Most Portlanders describe the west side as more traditional and historic, while the east side is considered to be the quirkier and more eclectic half. The east side is also very bike-friendly and more affordable. In general, getting around on bike is often just as fast as driving due to relentless traffic. The city is also equipped with an excellent public transit system. So far, I have found it fairly easy to navigate the city's grid-style layout. Hills and bridges are the most obvious differences from Denver.

Southeast Portland covers a wide area, from Burnside St. down to Milwaukie and all the way east to Gresham. The inner Southeast is famous for funky streets like Belmont St., Hawthorne Blvd., and Division St. where there’s no shortage of shopping, entertainment, great local food, and colorful street art. Thriving small businesses are plentiful, especially in the food cart community (often grouped into "pods").

 

Quaint streets are lined with a wide variety of colorful trees and flowers. In addition to new construction, the Southeast is full of Victorian era homes, large 1920s bungalows, and Spanish-style homes. The region is also home to affluent neighborhoods like Ladd’s Addition and Laurelhurst.

Laurelhurst Park is located half a mile east of my apartment. 30 acres of towering old trees provide a stark contrast to my previous backyard at Cheesman Park. Though hillier than Denver, Portland sits at a significantly lower elevation (I still get winded on jogs and steep hikes).

 

The late-summer weather has been ideal--70s and mostly sunny (cooler than what I'm used to, but a welcomed change nonetheless). I am repeatedly warned, however, of the inevitable winter gloom.

  

The vegan scene is a dream come true. In fact, Portland is home to the world's first vegan mini strip mall! My first night in the town, my college friend, Kyle, and I split a delicious thai pizza at Pizzicato. My first attempt to find community was a vegan wine and cheese happy hour, where I met a handful of vibrant, young vegan ladies.

Lake Oswego is a wealthy community 20 minutes southwest of town. My aunt Judy, who lives "across the river" in Vancouver, WA, invited me to the weekly farmer's market where she demos nutrient dense nut butters from Nut-Tritious Foods. Farmer's markets are abundant in Portland. It was wonderful to reunite with family, and to stock my kitchen with fresh, local produce. As an added bonus, the entertainment that day starred a captivating performance by a local flamenco group (throwback to my Spanish roots)!



Finally, with regards to the job front, I've had several interviews with no success yet. It was a risky decision to relocate without a job--and undoubtedly stressful to be presently unemployed--but I luckily saved up enough to "weather the storm" as I continue to network and seek alternate forms of income. For now, I remain hopeful that things will work out.

As I explained in The Adopted Coloradan, I left Denver in search of a change of pace. That begs the questions, then, of, "Why Portland?" The answer is baked into a combination of factors: the culture, the food and drink scene, the ocean, the opportunity to explore the West Coast... but most importantly, a mysterious but meaningful intuition of being drawn here. So with that, Elena Rose has taken the leap to find her way through The City of Roses.